Storm erupts over former UFC world champion’s live mic slur

UFC icon Michael Bisping has caused a stir after he appeared to be caught out when the cameras kept rolling at UFC 298.

Former UFC world champion Michael Bisping has caused a stir after appearing to be caught out by a live camera during UFC 298 on Sunday.

The 44-year-old is going viral after a moment where he appeared to be unaware the telecast feed remained live as he used a slur in self-mockery.

The comment was made long after he had finished delivering a promotional spiel ahead of the title fight between Aussie Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.

The former middleweight champ was part of the ESPN commentary team for the blockbuster main event card in Los Angeles with the American broadcast network’s commentary being used by TV network's around the globe.

The complex nature of the international broadcasts means the telecast remained live in some markets while most broadcasts went to ads or a follow up segment.

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According to social media users, Bisping was caught out falling into the trap of forgetting the microphone is always on.

The British UFC commentator was seen light-heartedly chastising himself for his choice of words during the piece to camera.

Michael Bisping's comments were broadcast live. Photo: Twitter.

“What a guy. What a night. UFC 298. Anaheim California. Certainly one for the (TV) box,” he said to camera before a long pause where he appeared to assume the feed had been cut.

He then had a giggle at his own use of words.

“What a guy? That’s f***ing gay,” he said.

One version of the video has been watched more than three million times on Twitter.

Bisping is yet to address the comments.

Social media users have suggested Bisping could be “cancelled” or dumped from ESPN’s future UFC broadcasts as a result of the comment.

Bisping was full of admiration for Volkanovski in the lead up to the fight, referring to the former featherweight boss as the greatest the division has ever seen.

Michael Bisping and the ESPN team. Photo: Instagram, @mikebisping.

“This fight’s going to be incredible,” he said.

“The best featherweight the sport has seen by the way. Knocking back contenders and No. 1 contenders time after time after time.”

Unfortunately for Volkanovski the fight didn’t go how Bisping believed it would and his reign as champ came to an end in stunning fashion when Topuria landed a knockout blow in the second round.

Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski of Australia in their featherweight title fight during UFC 298. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Volkanovski called for an immediate re-match, despite commentators earlier calling for him to take a break away from the sport to focus on his health.

“If I was in his team, I would say take time off,” Joe Rogan said on ESPN after the brutal result.

“If you’re going to fight again at 35 years of age, recover completely.”

Volkanovski gave an insight into his mentality after his defeat at the hands of Islam Makhachev when he said he needs to keep fighting and have fights to prepare for to help his mental health.

It was a worrying confession and he was making the same sort of statements after this defeat.

“Obviously he has powerful hands, we knew we had to be careful of that,” he said.

“Well done to him, he caught me, credit to him. He wasn’t meant to land like that, but he did.

“He keeps mentioning Spain, maybe we’d have a rematch over there in Spain.”